Help diag DVD/CD burner issue?

[Huggie Smiles]

my DVD reader/burner and cd in my puter is having issues.

It wont read or burn DVD (either bought or data DVD's Ive made) and it wont burn cd's.
It sporadically will still read a CD.

Is there any software or built in software that will help diagnose the problem? or do i just need to take it to a shop.

Its a Dell btw.

[ganjamo]

Re: Help diag DVD/CD burner issue?

Get a new one, they are really cheap. Like 20$ for a new one.

[poults]

Re: Help diag DVD/CD burner issue?

Get a new one, they are really cheap. Like 20$ for a new one.

I would say this is the easiest too, so cheap that they arent worth messing about with. Sounds like the laser has had it anyway. Is it very old?

[Huggie Smiles]

Re: Help diag DVD/CD burner issue?

3-4 years - is that old?

[poults]

Re: Help diag DVD/CD burner issue?

Not overly i wouldnt have said. The problem with anything electronic is that it can go wrong at any time for no apparent reason so i suppose age isnt always relevant.

[TomTom]

Re: Help diag DVD/CD burner issue?

When my DVD burner died on me, it did the same - reading less and less formats and reduced burning options. At the price you get a new one, the question is if it is worth the hazzle to analyse what the problem exactly is like ganjamo said. If you know somebody who can clean the lense for you, it might be something to look into but anything that takes longer than half an hour is wasted time imo.

[Huggie Smiles]

Re: Help diag DVD/CD burner issue?

thanks to all.